Land Rover Defender Problems by year

the winter months with it being very dark in our location. If something were to happen in this vehicle we would hold the NHTSA & Land Rover liable since this is my 2nd request for this repair on my vehicle. Which is used alot to transport our grandchildren. Thank you, [[redacted]] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

online. The dealer and repair shops tell me the headlights or daytime lights can't be repaired individually and must be replaced as full assemblies. Quotes range from about $4,000 (independent shop) to close to $8,000 (Land Rover dealer Fort Worth) for both sides. Both of these quotes were obtained over the phone but can reach out for hard copy to submit with report if needed. My vehicle is out of warranty by time but is under the mileage limit at 47k. This appears to be a widespread problem. Owners of 2020 Defenders report the same DRL ring failures on owner forums, and I understand a Special Service Message (SSM 75479) has been issued by the manufacturer on the issue. I'm reporting this because a headlight failing completely at night is a safety hazard, and I ask NHTSA to review it for a possible defect investigation.

finally died. We had to have it towed to our home as it was late and dealships were closed. Gearbox malfunction light, check engine light, system malfunction, suspension warning, drive with caution lights are what appeared. This was very traumatic to me and my kiddo. Hope this doesn't happen to anyone else. We are so lucky that we wer not in any type of accident. Thornton PD did show up to help and direct traffic.

daytime vehicle conspicuity feature, reducing visibility to approaching motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists, particularly during rain, overcast weather, and transitional lighting conditions. Some owners report no dashboard warning when the DRLs fail, potentially leaving drivers unaware of the malfunction. Jaguar Land Rover has known about this issue since at least 2021. Its Special Service Message SSM 75479 specifically acknowledges DRL failures on 2020-2021 Defenders and documents an engineering investigation. Similar failures have subsequently been reported by owners of later model years, suggesting a potentially unresolved design defect. Because the DRL electronics are integrated into the sealed headlamp assembly, dealerships generally require replacement of the entire assembly, costing approximately $3,000 per headlight or $6,000 for both. Land Rover reportedly provides goodwill replacements selectively while requiring other owners to pay out of pocket. I request that NHTSA investigate the entire 2020-2026 Defender population, examine JLR's engineering records, warranty claims, component failure rates, and headlamp design revisions, and determine whether a safety recall and manufacturer-funded corrective action are warranted. This is a recurring failure of a factory-installed safety-related lighting system, not simply an ordinary maintenance or warranty concern.

26V248, then recall 26V599. The manufacturer acknowledges this is a defect that causes loss of 12-volt charging. My vehicle displayed "Charging system fault detected" rather than the "Stop Safely Electrical Fault Detected" in JLR's earlier technical documentation. I am concerned that the warning may not adequately communicate the severity of the potential safety hazard. I did drive the car 5 miles to a day care and back. With 2 dogs in the car. The voltage on my radar detector display got as low as 10.x volts so I returned home and parked the car instead of taking the ferry. What makes this particularly unacceptable is the manufacturer's documented history of this defect. In LR's April 2026 filing, the company reviewed increasing DC-DC converter warranty claims in Sept 2024 but determined initially that the issue idd not present an unreasonable safety risk. The recall was initiated after JLR finally agreed with NHTSA about the safety concerns in April 2026. Despite this recall, owners like me continue to experience failures of a critical component while awaiting an actual recall remedy/repair. This vehicle is used to transport my family. A failure like this would progress to complete loss of lighting, power and all systems: putting my family, passengers & others at risk. Sudden immobilization is concerning as we live on an Island, where travel regularly involves the ferry, rural roads, dark roads & no mobile connectivity. Where's the remedy JLR?

dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.